Dawn -16c Poem by GORDON GILHULY

the first light of day comes as
grudgingly as a tax refund unwilling
it is crammed through the
miniscule slot left unattended

between the night-blackness of
the earth and the unrelieved grey
of early morning sky not an auspicious
beginning for a day that will

see the death of loneliness.
soon a single singing ray will
make its escape from between
these walls it will seem premeditated

foolhardy and cocksure as it
leaves its signature footprint
it will stop at a small
white church and rest this

is not a sign
but I am eager to make it so
having done everything
nothing the ray will suddenly

disappear I will sit
by the window with my morning
coffee and I will wait
foolhardy and cocksure

soon you will call and we
will fall into each
others' voices into long
distance arms soft words

will escape from behind
reptilian walls that kept us
safe kept us dead I
will listen like a church

to the inside of your
words you will hear my
listening my garrulous silences
you will know my footprints

soon there will be light